plate no. 1258

Head of An Old Man

oil, canvasRomanticismportraitportraitmanbeardhairfacefigure

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in rendering realistic skin tones and creating the illusion of depth through subtle value changes. It also provides practice in capturing the texture of hair and beard using varied brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the basic proportions and composition.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of dark brown.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the face, hair, and beard with mid-tones.
step 04
Gradually build up the darker values in the shadows, paying attention to the form.
step 05
Add highlights to the face, hair, and beard, using lighter shades of the base colors.
step 06
Refine the details of the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add texture to the hair and beard using short, broken brushstrokes.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and colors to create a cohesive and realistic portrait.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw umber · titanium white · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red light · ivory black

Mix skin tones by blending burnt umber, raw umber, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Use cadmium red light sparingly for warmth. Darken values with ivory black and lighten with titanium white.

techniques